Strategy Blueprint in Brief

The Blueprint in Brief

Today’s CIOs have unprecedented influence on the profitability of their companies. The CIO now sets the direction for the company, changing the future of the business with their technology decisions. Because of this rising importance, the CIO must be focused more than ever on increasing his or her company’s profitability. The four essential strategies for increasing profits are: integrating the business, mining business intelligence, using project management, and standardizing communications. Integrating the business functions across vertical business units allows IT departments to centralize and standardize processes and increase efficiency. Mining business intelligence with new IT processes or tools can offer new insights into customer data and identify new profit areas. Project management frees companies from project overload and directs funds to those projects with the highest profit potential. Standardizing communication throughout the infrastructure eliminates the need for translation and results in a simpler, more efficient information technology infrastructure. These strategies, combined with a focus on the end user, are the keys to effectively increasing company profits.

Action Points

I. Four Specific Strategies for Increasing Profits

Integrate the business. Mine your business intelligence. Use project management. Standardize communications.

II. The Bottom Line: Using Money Efficiently

Understanding the various business units, and staffing your department wisely, will help you be effective in formulating cost-efficient solutions.

III. Must-Have Questions for Process Improvement

The CIO needs to be process-oriented and process-knowledgeable, and ask specific questions of each business process.

IV. The Golden Rules for IT Communication

Focus on listening, learn from the front line, and adopt a service orientation.

V. Essential Take-Aways

CIOs change the future of their business through innovation, through...